President betrayed Muslims: Hisbullah

The Eastern Province double dissident M.L.A.M. Hisbullah —who quit the SLMC last month and quit the UPFA on Friday—charged yesterday that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had betrayed the Muslim community by not appointing him as chief minister.

By Chris Kamalendran

M.L.A.M. Hisbullah

In an interview with The Sunday Times, he also said it was numerically not possible and illegal to appoint TMVP leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan as the chief minister of the Eastern Province. Excerpts:

Q: You were promised the CM’s post before the elections but later the President changed his mind. Why?

A: I don’t know. All that the President told us was that he wanted to finish the war soon and therefore wanted Pillayan to be the CM. I reminded the President of his promise that I would be appointed as CM if a majority of the UPFA members elected were Muslims, but he insisted that Pillayan must be the CM.

Q: What happened at the meeting at Temple Trees on Friday when the issue of the CM’s post was taken up?

A: There were heated arguments. I was told to support Pillayan. But I refused and walked out.

Q: Did the two other members who backed you also walk out?

A: No. Only I. But later, all three of us wrote to the Eastern Province Governor on this issue.

Q: In that letter, you say that the three of you will act as an independent group in the provincial council. What do you mean?

A: It means the UPFA cannot be the ruling party in the council because it has only 17 of the 37 seats. The government should have at least 19 members – that is two members more than the opposition. That is why, we wrote to the Governor, because without us, the UPFA cannot be the ruling party and Pillayan cannot be the CM. The formation of the council is unlawful.

Q: But, what do you plan to do now by acting independently?

A: That is what we are discussing with our party members and lawyers. The UPFA has been reduced to 17 councillors now and the opposition also has 17. So how can Pillayan be appointed as CM?

Q: Why did you write to the Governor and not to the President?

A: Because the President broke his promise.

Q: Do you see this as a betrayal of the Muslims of the east?

A: Yes, it is a clear betrayal. The President addressed the eastern Muslim via a satellite and categorically said a Muslim would be appointed as CM if a majority of UPFA members elected were Muslims.

Q: But, were you not told that you would get the CM’s post only after the war was won?

A: No, such a statement was made only on Friday.

Q: Will your group back the opposition in the provincial council?

A: We have not decided yet.

Q: Have you had any talks with the UNP?

A: No yet. We have not decided.

Q: Are the Muslim ministers in the government backing you. Some of them wrote to the President asking that you be appointed as CM.

A: I am not sure. I believe a few Muslim ministers are still supporting me.

Q: Were you invited for Friday's swearing-in ceremony.

A: Yes, but we did not go. Some Muslim ministers also did not attend it. Among them were A. H. M. Fowzie, Ameer Ali and Rishard Bathiyudeen.

Q: What are you going to tell the Muslims in the east?

A: I know this is a problem. But I am sure, they will support my decision to act as an independent group.

Q: On Friday morning you hugged Pillayan but in the evening you boycotted the ceremony where he was sworn in.

A: I do not have any issue with Pillayan. This post should have been given to the Muslim community. The issue is with the President.